TOP Analysis, Prognoses and News about Greek - Albanian Relations and the Region.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Turkish troops kill 18 PKK rebels in major offensive

A Turkish military helicopter flies over the
border of an area between Iraq and Turkey during a military operation
against PKK Kurdish militants October 25, 2011. Picture taken October
25, 2011.

Credit: Reuters/Stringer

By Seyhmus Cakan

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey |
Fri Sep 7, 2012 9:00am EDT

DIYARBAKIR, Turkey
(Reuters) - Turkish soldiers have killed 18 Kurdish rebels in two days
in an offensive involving over 2,000 troops, as well as by F-16 fighter
jets operating on both sides of the Turkey-Iraq border, security sources
said on Friday.The operation against
separatist rebels from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) began on
Wednesday night in Sirnak, a southeasterly province bordering Iraq and Syria and the
site of frequent clashes between rebels and Turkish troops.The summer has been one of the bloodiest in
Turkey since the PKK took up arms against the state in 1984 with the aim
of carving out a Kurdish state."Eighteen
PKK members have been killed. The intense operation is continuing,"
security sources told Reuters.The
operation has largely focused on Kato mountain, a remote area in Sirnak,
but Turkish security sources as well as Iraqi residents said warplanes
had bombed areas inside northern Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan
region.A Reuters witness said he
had seen several F-16 jets take off from Diyarbakir air base on Thursday
night and Friday morning. Diyarbakir is the main city in Turkey's
predominantly Kurdish southeast.There
were no reports that Turkish ground troops had crossed the border into
northern Iraq, although Turkey has sent soldiers into the region in the
past, and still has some 1,000 troops based there under an agreement
with Iraq dating from the 1990s.PKK
ATTACKS ON THE RISETurkey has
stepped up air operations on suspected PKK rebels in northern Iraq over
the past year after an increase in PKK attacks, and the raids have
fuelled tension between Ankara and the Kurdistan Regional Government
(KRG).Security sources said one
Turkish soldier had been killed during clashes with PKK militants at the
start of the offensive on Wednesday night.On
Sunday, PKK fighters killed 10 members of Turkey's security services in
simultaneous attacks on four state and security installations in
Sirnak.More than 40,000 people
have been killed since the start of the conflict between the Turkish
state and the PKK, which is considered a terrorist organization by
Turkey, the United States and the European Union.In the 15 months to August, some 800 people
were killed, including about 500 PKK fighters, more than 200 security
personnel and about 85 civilians, according to estimates by the
International Crisis Group think-tank.Ankara
has linked the upsurge on the unrest in neighboring Syria and Prime
Minister Tayyip Erdogan has accused Syria's President Bashar al-Assad of
arming the PKK militants.Turkey
has raised the possibility of military intervention in Syria if the PKK
were to launch attacks from Syrian soil. On Wednesday, the military
conducted a major military exercise on the Syrian border, a clear
warning to Damascus.(Writing by
Jonathon Burch; Editing by Kevin Liffey)

Friday, September 7, 2012

Priština replaces Serbian country code with Albanian

Source: Tanjug

PRIŠTINA -- The Kosovo assembly adopted Thursday a
resolution by which the country code for Serbia - 381, will be replaced
by the international code of Albania - 355.

Albania's unique international prefix - 355
would, according to the resolution, be valid not only for fixed
telephony, but also for two mobile operators with calling codes 377 and
386.
The resolution notes that the citizens of Kosovo will gain a
lot at the political, economic and security level by replacing the
international telephone code.

The document also requests that
the Kosovo government quickly initiates negotiations with the Albanian
government on using the new international prefix.

The document
also envisages that, if agreements on using current international
calling codes are still valid, they should be respected but not further
extended.

The discussion on the resolution was held at a
session on August 30. The document was adopted by the votes of 47 MPs,
nine were against, while two MPs abstained from voting.

Vetro Energy places top bid for Albpetrol

TIRANA
(Reuters) - Vetro Energy, a U.S.-based consortium, has offered 850
million euros ($1.07 billion) for Albpetrol, more than double the value
placed on the Albanian state-owned oil firm's assets by advisers to the
sale.

Vetro Energy's bid, equivalent
to 10 percent of the Balkan country's gross domestic product (GDP), was
one of five opened on Friday in front of an audience that included
reporters, the bidding companies, and the state board reviewing the
process.

Bidding through the Vetro
Silk Road Equity Ltd consortium out of Singapore, Chicago-based Vetro
Energy topped a 790 million euros offer from Amber Shine.The buyer will win all Albpetrol's
above-ground assets and the right to explore and exploit oil and gas in
Albanian territory for 25 years, the government has said.To sweeten the deal, the government has also
granted Albeptrol the right to build a refinery and licenses to
transport and distribute natural gas.

Sokol
Dervishaj, the deputy economy and energy minister and head of the sale
board, said the bid documents would be examined. He did not give a date
for the winner to be announced.Bankers
Petroleum of Canada (BNK.TO),
which has an output-sharing agreement with Albpetrol in the
Patos-Marinza oilfield, offered 304 million euros, while Chinese
consortium Win Business offered 298 million. JSC Gazprom Neft bid $52
million.Seven of Albpetrol's eight
oilfields are run by foreign companies under output-sharing agreements.
The eighth, at Amonica, is operated by Albpetrol.(Reporting By Benet Koleka; Editing by Dan
Lalor)

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
Philip Reeker with Albanian PM Sali Berisha during the press conference.

Thank you very much, PM Berisha. Good afternoon everyone. It is truly
an honor for me to be back in Albania, and particularly in this
centennial year of Albania’s independence. The Prime Minister and I
indeed discussed the strong bilateral relationship between our two
countries. Albania is a reliable partner of the United States.
As always, we had the opportunity to discuss the European perspective
of Albania, developments in the region, and I always appreciate the
Prime Minister’s views on the region and the broader world. The United
States appreciates the government’s steadfast contributions to regional
and international security, including contributions to ISAF and bringing
about stability in Afghanistan.
Washington remains committed to the region’s continued
democratization and Euro-Atlantic integration.
As I told the PM, Washington will be watching the next year very
closely. We expect to see continued reform progress, and respect for
the independence of democratic institutions, and in particular the next
weeks are critical. They are critical in demonstrating movement on
reforms and a seriousness of purpose that transcends politics and
reflects the best interests and desires of the people of Albania. I
thank again the PM for his generosity of time today, and again I express
my delight and gratitude for this opportunity to visit in the Republic
of Albania.

Albania, Bulgaria Offer Greek Professors Big Salaries, Cars

“Greek professors wanted to tutor in Albanian and Bulgarian Universities. Very good salary. Transportation, accommodation and alimentation covered.” This ad was published in several Albanian and Bulgarian media to lure Greek professors to teach in those countries a few days a week, to work for private institutions.

The Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported that some Greek professors have already moved to Saudi Arabia or Qatar for big salaries and three-year deals. The Rector of the University of Ioannina, Triantafyllos Albanis, said that, “Some representatives of Albanian colleges asked to meet me at my office. I thought they intended to discuss about issues concerning our research collaboration, but they wanted to offer some professors of our University a good position in Albania.”

Albanis said he was told that there are seven private colleges in neighboring Albania which follow a European or American program and cooperate with several universities abroad. Albanian representatives told him they would offer Greek academics a car as well to transport them from the border, as well as big salaries and would cover all their expenses in the country, including food and accommodation.

Similar proposals have been addressed to professors of the northern Dimokritio University to work for Bulgarian universities though none had reportedly accepted yet.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Kurds and (the Turkish) Way

By ANDREW FINKELISTANBUL
— When I first started covering Turkey in the early 1990s, my foreign
colleagues and I were sometimes mocked for referring to the brewing
resentment in southeastern Turkey as “the Kurdish problem.” There was no
sectarian or ethnic discrimination, we were told; the problem was
terrorism. The Kurdistan Workers Party, better known as the PKK,
resorted to violence and extortion, which no civilized society could
abide.

How can Ankara deal with Kurds beyond its borders if it can’t manage relations with its Kurds at home?

The
major flaw in this argument was that the Turkish state also resorted to
tactics unworthy of a civilized society. For years, to argue for
Kurdish rights — let alone regional autonomy — or simply to write in
Kurdish could mean prison; such acts were considered aiding and abetting
terrorism. Kurdish political parties were shut down. Political
activists were tortured. In what became Turkey’s own dirty war, thousands of people were assassinated or disappeared.
It’s
not just the Kurds who suffered. Fear of Kurdish secession has long
been the canker in Turkish democracy, the justification for a raft of
laws that restrict human rights and the freedom of expression. Now it is
compromising Turkey’s attempt to play a greater role in its region,
particularly as Syria implodes. How can Ankara deal with Kurds beyond
its borders if it can’t manage relations with its Kurds at home?
And
as long as Turkey blurs the line between terrorism and legitimate
protest, it will continue to alienate its Kurdish population while
legitimating the men of violence.

The
Justice and Development Party (AKP) was aware of this challenge when it
came to office in 2002. And so in early 2009, after having consolidated
power, it initiated a “Kurdish opening.”
It started a Kurdish-language television station and offered amnesty to
young PKK militants to lure them back into civilian life.
But
that opening famously shut down in October 2009, after the PKK tried to
cast as a victory parade the return of a group of its militants at the
Habur border crossing with Iraq. The AKP, despite commanding a strong
majority in Parliament, simply wasn’t prepared to brave nationalist
sentiment and the many Turks who saw compromise as weakness. Just as in
Northern Ireland, where a bloodier-than-thou faction of the IRA was
shadowing the peace process, there were factions within the PKK with no
intention of giving peace a chance.
After Habur, the Turkish
government abandoned the carrot and picked up the stick. It was
determined to stop the spread of a campaign of civil disobedience to
cities with large Kurdish populations, by way of mass arrests and
pretrial detention.
These harsh policies have brought Turkey
little security, and the bloody events in Syria are now making matters
worse. President Bashar al-Assad of Syria has voluntarily ceded control
of the Kurdish north of his country to the Democratic Union Party, a
Syrian variant of the PKK. There has recently been an upsurge in PKK
attacks against Turkish soldiers and police near the Iranian border, as
well as a rise in acts of random terrorism — including a bomb explosion
on Aug. 20 near a police station in Gaziantep that killed 10 civilians.
Many suspect the bloodshed is the direct result of political games in Syria, as well as a ploy by Iran to use the PKK against the Turkish government to punish it for supporting the Syrian opposition.
Ankara
has not responded so far, but it could get sucked into the conflict by
trying to enforce a buffer zone along the Syrian border. It is already
trying to get the international community to establish a no-fly zone to
protect the growing tide of refugees from Syria. Some of those are
deserters from the Syrian Army, and there is little doubt that the
Turkish government is encouraging them to re-enter the fight on the side
of the rebels.

All
this has prompted Cemil Cicek, the speaker of Parliament and a former
hardline AKP minister of justice, to call for a “national consensus” —
code for re-opening the Turkish government’s Kurdish initiative and
granting Kurds more power locally. This sort of plan might have worked
miracles decades ago. And it might still succeed today, except that Cicek is being criticized, and by his own party.
Instead
of declaring that there is no Kurdish problem, as it did two decades
ago, the Turkish government now appears to be saying there is no Kurdish
solution. Does that count as progress?

Andrew
Finkel has been a foreign correspondent in Istanbul for over 20 years,
as well as a columnist for Turkish-language newspapers. He is the author
of the book “Turkey: What Everyone Needs to Know.”

Greek Far Right Support Rises

09/06/2012 | 06:05am US/Eastern
ATHENS--Greece's coalition partners have seen their popularity drop
since the elections in June as they finalize the country's next round of
austerity measures, according to poll results published Thursday, with
ultranationalists Golden Dawn the only party to see a rise in support
levels.
According to a survey prepared by Pulse RC and published in weekly To
Pontiki newspaper, conservatives New Democracy--who lead the coalition
government-- saw their support drop to 25% from 29.7% in the June
elections.
Backing for the two junior coalition partners--Pasok and Democratic
Left--also dropped. Socialists Pasok are supported by 8% of respondents,
down from 12.3%, among the lowest levels seen by the party since being
established in 1974. Greece's small Democratic Left party saw its
popularity drop to 4.5%, versus 6.3% at the latest national polls.
The survey, conducted Aug. 31 to Sept. 4, found that the majority of
Greeks are displeased with the choices made by the government which is
struggling to finalize 13.5 billion euros ($17 billion) of cuts demanded
by international creditors. With the savings plan expected to be
announced in coming weeks, protests to proposed cuts to pensions and
public servant's salaries are picking up.
Police, firefighters and port authority employees are scheduled to
demonstrate in Athens Thursday afternoon after judges and public
prosecutors staged a protest at the country's Supreme Court building
Wednesday.
Further demonstrations are expected in the northern Greek city of
Thessaloniki on Saturday where Greece's prime minister traditionally
makes a keynote economic speech at an annual trade fair. This year Prime
Minister Antonis Samaras will skip the speech as the government
prepares for the next round of talks with representatives of the
so-called troika of creditors--the International Monetary Fund, the
European Union and the European Central Bank--starting Friday.
Among the seven parties represented in parliament, Golden Dawn is the
big winner with 10.5% of those questioned in the survey saying they
would vote for the far right party. It was backed by 6.9% of the
electorate in June.
Radical left party Syriza remains the country's second most popular
party, despite seeing its popularity also drop. The survey showed that
24% of voters support the party, down from 26.9% in June.

“Serbia should recognize Kosovo without north”

BELGRADE -- Serbia should offer the international
community recognition of Kosovo but without its northern part which
should remain within Serbia, Milorad Dodik has stated.

Milorad Dodik (Tanjug, file)

The
Republic of Srpska (RS) president told Belgrade-based weekly Novi
Magazin that reality was northern Kosovo, where majority Serbs did not
accept the province's independence that was self-proclaimed by ethnic
Albanians.
On the other hand, he said that Serbia had to realize that it
is impossible, in political terms, to return Kosovo within its
framework.

Dodik pointed out that it was a better time for such
a solution earlier, and added that all interested parties should meet
and see what reality is, in order to "end this story."

According to him, the solution is not to just avoid reaching any
decisions so you are not remembered by history as a "bad guy."

Dodik believes that "some things" still can be returned, suggesting
that, if the current situation remains, "you should never recognize
Kosovo."

"You cannot agree to that, because tomorrow someone
else will come and break off a part of your territory and then what?”
the RS president stressed, adding that some messages have to be sent.

Dodik voiced belief that excellent relations between RS and Serbia would continue regardless of the change of government.

When it comes relations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, he pointed out that 99
percent of property has been returned to Bosniaks and Croats in RS,
including apartments that were socially-owned until 1990.

“However, Banja Luka and Sarajevo still remain alienated due to
different perception of crimes and victims,” he said, adding that the
problem lied in double standards to which RS cannot not agree.

"There was a crime in Srebrenica and RS should never forget Potočari,
but no one should forget (crime against Serbs) in Bratunac and other
victims," Dodik concluded.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Fule: Albania has a real perspective for progress on its European integration path in 2012

European Commission Press - 05.09.2012

Statement by Commissioner Štefan Füle following his meeting with Edmond Panariti, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania:

The
Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Mr
Štefan Füle, met yesterday with Mr Edmond Panariti, Minister of Foreign
Affairs of Albania. Commissioner Füle and Minister Panariti discussed
the latest developments regarding Albania's EU integration process and
its role in the region.

Commissioner Füle commended the genuine
efforts made by both government and opposition to strengthen the
cooperation in the context of institutional reforms and welcomed the
positive developments achieved recently. He notably referred to the
consensual adoption of the revised electoral code as an important step,
which brings the November 2011 political agreement close to full
implementation.

He stated that Albania has a real perspective for
progress on its European integration path in 2012, provided the country
delivers a critical mass of concrete results in key reform areas. He
underlined that constructive political dialogue needs to continue to
complete the reform of the parliamentary rules of procedure. He also
stressed the need to continue progress in the fulfilment of the 12 key
priorities of the Commission's Opinion, with particular emphasis on the
rule of law, including the adoption of the Law on High Court and
progress on establishing a solid and credible track record in the fight
against corruption. In this respect, Commissioner Füle indicated that
the revision of the immunities system would be an important step in the
right direction.

Reiterating the European Commission's engagement
and full support of these efforts, Commissioner Füle invited Albania to
remain focused on comprehensive reforms, which are necessary for the
achievement of the national objective of European integration and to
continue playing a constructive role in the region.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Brussels, Albania submits report04/09/2012

Albania submitted its most
recent report about the accomplishment of 12 key priorities, receiving a
preliminary evaluation by the European Commission.

“Since
November, when a new spirit started to exist in the country, and when we
see what has been implemented from the 12 key priorities, the balance
is extremely good and positive. Not only the government but all parties
and political actors, and the Albanian society in general, can be happy
for what has been achieved so far”, declared Stefano Saninno, General
Director for Enlargement at the European Council.

Despite the
voting of some qualified majority laws, the appointment of the Ombudsman
and the passing of the Electoral Rreform, Albania did not close the
Parliamentary regulation issue and that of immunities. The latter had an
important place in the debate organized by the European Policies Center
in Brussels.

“There are several alternatives for a country to
pass the immunity lifting law. As you know, the majority has proposed a
national referendum which is a democratic instrument to continue it. I
don’t see any disagreement about this. It is seen in different ways, but
this doesn’t mean that the parties are not committed to fight
corruption and establish harsher measures in order to have better
control”, declared the Foreign Minister, Edmond Panariti.

“We
don’t have enough time to start the debate for the Constitutional amends
in September. The immunity lifting is a proposition that we have made
since 2003. The other Constitutional amends that are related with the
justice system can be discussed later”, declared the Minister of
Integration, Majlinda Bregu.

“I want to highlight the role of the
immunity lifting law, which is an important element for us. War against
corruption is one of the areas that we think it needs more efforts, and
this would be a good effort in the right direction. If we see that this
law passes not in a forced way, if we can call it that, but with an
agreement between all political parties, then this would be an important
step ahead, followed by all other things that have been achieved and
the efforts that the political forces are making in other areas”, Sanino
declared.

The European Commission has already started the
progress-report and they will review the recent data handed over by the
Albanian government, in order to include them in the document that will
be published on October 12th.

LN: ČEZ wages war with Albania

ČTK |

4 September 2012

Prague, Sept 3 (CTK) - The Czech CEZ national power company has
threatened that it will cut its supplies of electricity to state-owned
water management companies in Albania, daily Lidove noviny (LN) writes
yesterday.
Albanian authorities have called on CEZ to pay [an equivalent of] half a billion crowns as an additional tax, LN writes.
"We will cut state-owned companies from the electric current as they
owe us over one billion crowns for unpaid electricity bills," the daily
quotes CEZ managers as saying.
The business in Albanian has become a nightmare for CEZ, LN writes.
Even Prime Minister Petr Necas's recent intervention in Albania and an appeal of the World Bank have not helped, it adds.
Albanian authorities have imposed an additional tax of 23 million
euros on the company CEZ Shpernadrje, the Czech firm's daughter company
in Albania, LN writes.
The authorities insist on the payment although CEZ was not paid for its electricity, it adds.
As a result, it must still pay the VAT and income tax to the Albanian state, LN writes.
"CEZ absolutely rejects this approach," CEZ spokeswoman Barbora Pulpanova is quoted as saying.
On the other hand, CEZ has adopted a tough approach to those who fail to pay for its electricity, LN writes.
It has threatened to cut the supplies to the state-owned water
management companies in order to have the debts of the total sum of 1.1
billion crowns repaid to it, it adds.
Pulpanova said the extreme means had succeeded.
The Albanian government has paid at least a part of its debt, LN writes.
However, electricity is drawn in Albania illegally not only by state-owned companies.
In the past months, CEZ Shpernadrje (CEZ Distribution) disconnected
from its network whole villages, in which no one paid for the delivered
electricity, LN writes.
In some cases, the villagers physically attacked the company's employees, it adds.
Due to the problems, the Albanian daughter company has run into financial difficulties, LN writes.
In its annual report from 2011, CEZ warned that if conditions for
business do not change in Albania, it will lose up to ten billion crowns
there in the next three years, it adds.
The unfair conditions have affected Czech-Albanian relations, LN writes.
Necas and Industry and Trade Minister Martin Kuba spoke in favour of CEZ during their April visit to Tirana, it adds.
Kuba said he would deal with the situation with the company management this week, LN writes.
CEZ has drawn the Czech state into its legal and political war with Albania, LN writes in its commentary on the issue.
Should Necas's visit to Tirana mean that this state should be called
CEZka republika (instead of Ceska republika), as the foreign minister
sometimes says jokingly? it asks.
After all, CEZ is a state-owned company, its billions are also our
billions and to defend state interests abroad in a sensible extent is
among the duties of all prime ministers, LN writes,

After a one month break, the Albanian Parliament started working again.
The MPs sat on the Parliament floor for the first session of Season 7 of
Legislation XVIII.

Parliament Speaker Jozefina
Topalli emphasized in her opening speech that this is a very special
session that will mark the 100th anniversary of independence, stating
that “reforms” will be the key word of this legislation.

“The
opposition made us fail passing the immunity lifting law. Passing laws
of great importance is a task established by the EU. The Albanians
deserve the EU candidate status and politics must come together and vote
these important laws”, Topalli declared.

The Head of the
Socialist Parliamentary Group, Gramoz Ruci, declared that this session
started with a new President who took three politically based decision
only in the first month.

“The President failed when appointed as
Vice Chairman of the High Council of Justice a party militant with an
indecent performance. He failed when he appointed on the top of the
Secret Service a person with a dark past, and even when he appointed as
head of the Marine a military man who had graduated for infantry”, Ruci
declared.

The SP Parliamentary Group leader launched other
accusations against the majority, claiming that their real concern is
not the EU candidate status for Albania, but holding their grip to power
for as long as possible. He mentioned a series of reforms, part of the
EU 12 recommendations, and that have not been realized by the
government. Ruci appealed the majority to vote the amends proposed by
the opposition.

“We have no results for the property conflicts,
the war against crime and corruption and the judiciary. It all comes
down to voting them just for closing the debate for our initiative. Who
wants independent justice and unbiased judges must vote our amends”,
Ruci underlined.

The DP Parliamentary Group Leader, Astrit
Patozi, accused the opposition and its leader of blocking important
reforms for the country, stating that the majority will not vote the
constitutional amends proposed by the opposition. He invited the SP to
cooperate for removing immunity on October 6th.

“We will not
vote the nonsense that was filed. We will implement any procedural norm.
We cannot take seriously something that Edi Rama has brought to
Parliament as a pretext for delaying the integration reform, so that he
can block the status again”, Patozi declared.

The main challenges
of this session will be the immunity lifting for high rank officials,
the reformation of the Central Election Commission, the continuity of
the parliamentary agenda with other issues left suspended by the
previous session, and also the draft law “for the Supreme Court” and the
approximation of the Albanian legislation with the European one.

Nishani: Parties must cooperate

The
Albanian President, Bujar Nishani, gave a congratulatory speech for the
opening of the seventh session of the 18th legislation.

“The
Albanian Parliament is the place of debate and competition; the place
where different views and alternatives are presented, and when decisions
are taken with consensus. We are about to celebrate the 100th
anniversary for the creation of the Albanian state, a key moment in our
history. This is a moment that coincides with a path that we have taken
many years ago and that everyone considers as the only alternative: the
European integration”, Nishani declared.

The message published on
the Presidential official web page states that the will and desire to
have our country as a candidate for joining the European Union demands
real contributions.

“I invite the political forces to cooperate
in order to accomplish the important tasks provided by the 12 EU
priorities, before the publishing of the EC progress report about
Albania. I want to emphasize the significance that the commitment of all
MPs has in limiting or lifting the immunity for high rank officials, as
the establishment of a new legal and political standard which is
necessary for a country and society that aspires the European values of
the rule of law”, Nishani underlined.

The President reminded
that the much wanted political consensus, the dialogue, tolerance and
aimed cooperation would free the way to a normal electoral process that
will be held next year.

US CIA chief Petraeus arrives Monday to cool Israeli ire

DEBKAfileExclusive ReportSeptember 2, 2012,

CIA Chief David Petraeus to Turkey and Israel

President Barack Obama is sending CIA Director David Petraeus to Israel
in a hurry Monday, Sept. 3, in an attempt to quench the flames of
discord between Israel and his administration on the Iran issue. He will
fly in from a visit to Ankara Sunday, where too he faces
recriminations for US handling of the Syrian crisis.
Israel has a double grievance over Obama’s Iran policy: Not only does
his administration spare Iran’s leaders any sense of military threat
that might give them pause in their dash for a nuclear weapon, but US
officials are actively preventing any Israel striking out in its own
defense to dispel the dark shadow of a nuclear Iran.
Behind closed doors in Ankara Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and
President Abdullah Gul are preparing to vent their anger against the US
administration for tying their hands against establishing safe havens
in Syria for rebel operations against the Assad regime. The Turkish Air
Force has been on standby for the last two months for this mission,
along with the Saudi and UAE air forces. However, none are prepared to
go forward without logistical backing from the US Air Force.
They blame Obama’s refusal to engage directly in the Syrian conflict
for the escalating terrorist threats confronting Turkey from Assad’s
open door to PKK (Kurdish Workers Party) bases in northern Syria and the
Iraqi-Syrian-Turkish border triangle. Turkey is also stuck with a
swelling influx of Syrian refugees piling an unmanageable burden on its
economy.
Israel does not expect anything useful to come out of the Petraeus
visit – or even any alleviation of the bad feeling between Binyamin
Netanyahu and Barack Obama. High-placed officials in Jerusalem were of
the view that the CIA chief fits the US president’s bill at this time.
His visit is a non-binding gesture of goodwill for Israel which does not
require the White House or the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Gen. Martin Dempsey to backtrack or apologize for his derogatory remarks
about the IDF's capacity for taking Iran on. Another advantage is that
any words passing between the CIA chief and Israeli leaders may be
classified.
His visit to Jerusalem will therefore not stem the ill will prevailing between Jerusalem and Washington.
All the same, Prime Minister Netanyahu chose his words carefully Sunday
to avoid fingering the US directly when he urged the international
community to get tougher against Iran, saying that without a "clear red
line," Tehran will not halt its nuclear program. He was addressing the
weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem.
"I believe that the truth must be said, the international community
[not the US] is not drawing a clear red line for Iran, and Iran does not
see international determination to stop its nuclear program," Netanyahu
said.
"Until Iran sees this clear red line and this determination, it will
not stop its advancement of the Iranian nuclear program. Iran must not
have a nuclear weapon," he declared.
Earlier Sunday, debkafile reported: Slashed US military input shortens Israel's notice of Iranian missile launch.

ECB Eyes Greek Myth Symbol for Euro Note Security

As
Greece continues to teeter on the brink of bankruptcy and is regarded
as unreliable and untrustworthy for lying about its economy and breaking
its promises to reform, the European Central Bank (ECB) is reaching
into the country’s mythological past to use a symbol to help make euro
bank notes more secure.
Greece is still on the brink of bankruptcy, but the ECB apparently
felt secure enough reaching into the country’s storied past to put the
image of Europa, the Phoenician princess abducted by Zeus, for its
watermark on euros due to come out next year, according to the Bloomberg
news agency.
The Frankfurt-based ECB invited public relations companies to pitch
for the contract to help present the new notes and dispel concern over
the use of the image at a time when investors are questioning whether
Greece can remain in the euro area, two sources told the news agency.
Using an image that symbolizes the foundations and history of Europe
and transcends national boundaries may reinforce the message of
political leaders such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel that the euro
is a currency of unity, even though Greece triggered the sovereign debt
crisis that’s driven up borrowing costs for governments from Rome to
Dublin, pushing at least five economies into recession and threatening
to destroy the monetary union.
The ECB plans to make the designs public in November and issue the
first new note, a 5-euro bill, in May, two of the people said. “As we
have announced already some time ago, work on the second generation of
euro banknotes is ongoing,” ECB spokesman Niels Buenemann said. “Details
will be communicated at a later stage.”
Central banks typically redesign their banknotes on a regular basis
to improve security and prevent counterfeiting. Putting a face rather
than the current architectural structure on the watermark may make it
harder for forgers to produce fakes. The ECB has repeatedly delayed the
redesign of euro banknotes, which were first introduced in 2002.
In the first half of this year, the ECB removed 251,000 fake
banknotes from circulation, down from 310,000 notes withdrawn in the
previous six-month period. Current euro notes show windows, gateways and
bridges from different eras in European architecture, both as the main
pictures on the bills and in the watermarks.
In Greek mythology, Europa, the beautiful daughter of Phoenician king
Agenor and his queen Telephassa, was kidnapped by Zeus. Taking the form
of a white bull, the king of the Greek gods seduced Europa and stole
her away to the island of Crete. Europa, whose moniker could be
translated as “wide- gazing” or “far-seeing,” is already depicted on
Greek two- euro coins and several commemorative pieces.

Ivanović told Beta news agency that the “citizens will defend their
right to exercise their basic human rights – freedom of movement,
expression of their identity, nationality and use of their documents,
with all legitimate means”.

“Kosovo police members will not
implement the decision on driver’s licenses in northern Kosovo because
they have to serve the people under jurisdiction of municipal assemblies
in the areas they work in northern Kosovo,” he explained.

He said that Serbia should implement reciprocal measures.

“If Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija cannot use their documents where they
live and work, especially those south of the Ibar River, then the same
thing should be imposed on Albanians who live in the territory of
Serbia”.

Ivanović stressed that a decision to ban the driver’s licenses issued by the Serbian police “is aimed at pressuring Serbs”.

Nishani visited Prishtina: Dialogue with Serbia is the only efficient means

President Bujar Nishani stated in Prishtina that Kosovo's independence
is irreversible and it is also an important factor of regional peace and
stability.

The Head of State of Albania made the comments at the start of his first
official visit to Kosovo, after the meeting he had with Kosovo
President Atifete Jahjaga.

President Nishani said that the removal of Kosovo's supervised
independence is a historical moment that opens a new road to Kosovo, to
its citizens, in the consolidation of state and institutions, as well as
in the development of democracy and economic prosperity.

Speaking about dialogue with Serbia, the President said that Albania
supports the agenda of Kosovo institutions, while adding that dialogue
is the most efficient and successful means to solve open issues between
countries.

'Free, independent, democratic and sovereign Kosovo is today not only an
irreversible reality, but also an indispensable factor for peace,
stability and economic development all over the Balkans region. Albania
has always supported and continues to support all the commitments of
Kosovo institutions in their contacts, negotiations and communications.
The dialogue is today the most efficient, the most successful and the
most European means to handle all problems that may arise between two
different countries or states,' President Nishani stated.

'We agreed that border between our two countries must be a European one
which unites people, enabling thus a free communication and an
exploitation of our resources, through concrete programs. This year the
construction work for the nation's highway 'Ibrahim Rugova' is due to
end in all Prishtina-Durrës segment. This will help to increase the
commercial exchanges and the goods flow. The emerging of the Republic of
Kosovo in Albania's ports is of the utmost importance for the
distribution of our products, but also for the economic connection with
all the countries of the world,' President Jahjaga stated.

Nishani paid homages near the grave of Kosovo's Historical President Ibrahim Rugova and paid a visit to his family.

In the second day of his stay in Kosovo, Nishani is due to pay homages
next to the grave of the Legendary KLA Commander Adem Jashari and next
to the Martyrs' Cemetery in Deçan, where he is due to stay for a while
at the Jasharajs' Tower and at the house of the father of former PM
Ramush Haradinaj.

President of Albania will conclude his visit to Kosovo with a visit at
the Albanian League of Prizren and at the Sinan Pasha's Mosque in the
city.

According to non-publicinformation, the group of meninuniform, belonged toabigDiscoinJali, who are members ofaprivatepoliceCompany, afterinjuredthe ownerfromHimara, left toJali, withoutbeingbotheredbylocalpolice station.

The Panepirotic Federation of America vehemently condemns the brutal destruction by Albanian authorities on August 26 of a Greek Orthodox Church in the Chimara region of the former Communist nation that once prohibited all forms of religious worship. The Church of St. Athanasius in the town of Drymades, known in Albanian as Dhermi, was completely destroyed by government agents acting on the authority of Albania’s Interior Ministry.

Petitioning European Council

The land in Himara belongs to the people of Himara! Land and property registration NOW! Signe now this petition to the European Councile, for the registration of properties to the only and single eligible owner: the PEOPLE of Himara.

Himara Community of USA, Addresses Himarra Property Issues with US State Department / Ambassador

The Honorable John F. Kerry Secretary of State U.S. Department of State Dear Mr. Secretary: We are writing to inform you of issues affecting United States citizens who have vested interests in the municipality of Himarra, Albania, and to express our concern about their long outstanding and unresolved problems regarding property rights. Over 1500 US citizens of Himarrioton descent are disenfranchised of their rights to the ownership of their family properties which were confiscated in 1945 by the communist regime. They have been attempting to claim their family properties since the end of the communist period without success due to the laws and policies of the Albanian government which a) fail to address ownership rights of pre-1945 landowners, b) fail to address the rights of owners who were forced to emigrate to the United States for economic or political reasons, and c) fail to address the rights of those with dual citizenship who have attempted to claim their properties as Albanian citizens.

Opinion - Kisha Autoqefale dhe Greqia! (14 tetor 2013)

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Officially: Omonoia, In Albania over 300.000 Greeks declared

30 % or 86,000, are declared electronically and this process includes 85 % of the members of the Greek minority Vlora Prefecture is the mostly populated by Greeks, there are about 90. 000 Greeks. TIRANA - Democratic Union of the Greek Ethnic Minority, Omonoia publishes the results of the census of members of the Ethnic Greek Community, organized by it structures. The Prime Census, was the decision of the General Council of the organization as members argued for exclusion of the Greek minority in the months Census October 2011, organized by the Institute of Statistics .

The history of elections of the Albanian dictator, to terrorize the people of Himara

A special Edition by SManalysis December 2, 1945: The Himariotes, abstaining from communist referendum, as happens usually for Himara the Albanian historians, never wrote this tragic history. Nikos Koutoulas, who boldly told the special communist court: "I'm Greek . I do not know Albanian, get me a interpret!" Still now, Albania never hold free politic elections, including Himara Municipality

Albanian Writer Raises Storm in Kosovo

Kosovo officials have rounded on Albanian writer Fatos Lubonja for saying that the political elites in both countries turned a blind eye to the crimes of the Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA. Besar Likmeta BIRN Tirana Albanian writer Fatos Lubonja In the article published in the May edition of the magazine Sudosteuropa, Lubonja focused on the reaction of Albania’s political class to the acquittal of the former KLA commander and Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj by the Hague Tribunal. Lubonja wrote that following Haradinaj’s release, the elite in Pristina and Tirana celebrated him as a hero, despite having enough information that the charges brought by prosecutors in the Hague were correct.

As long as human rights and civil liberties are violated in Himara Region primarily property, Greec

Himara Associations: Athens to block the status of Albania, if Tirana, does not solve the property issue Two associations based in Himara, "The Himara Community" and "Sea Coastal Association" have asked in a statement distributed to the media this afternoon that Greece "should block the candidate status for Albania" if Tirana, will not solve the problems of Human Rights and particularly the issue of the properties in Himara Region. The statement takes into consideration the visit Tirana following day of E.Venizelos the Greek Deputy Prime Minister also heads the Presidency of the European :

Albania minorities object to territorial division

Albania's civil society is calling on officials to diffuse tensions and protect minorities from discrimination and potential violence as a result of the decision to scrap the existing municipalities and create a new territorial administration. The government reduced the 384 local government units to 65, effectively creating entirely Albanian-majority municipalities. Greek, Macedonian and other minority representatives said the government's move violates their rights and international norms.

Poll: Albania, the most racist country in Europe

An international survey data from the World Value Survey collected and processed by the Washington Post reveals that Albania is the most racist country in Europe and worldwide more racists. The survey attempts to make a connection between economic development and being tolerant inside a society with ethnic crashes.. Thus, the most tolerant countries in the world are the Nordic countries, Great Britain and some of its former colonies, the United States, Canada and Australia. Countries with high tolerance are also in Latin America, where Venezuela exception.

Fatos Lobonja: Albania needs formatting not to rebirth

Fatos Lobonja, in an interview for the program "PULS" the KohaVision in Kosovo, there appeared criticism of developments in Albania. According Lubonja Albanians as a society still can not be consolidated. The reasons, according to him, are corrupt Albanian political elites on all sides, inside and abroad. He said they did not thirst for power leaves organize and move forward. Edi Rama's arrival at the head of government, according Lubonja, will not change the image of Albania, because Rama is associated with the oligarchs and organized crime. " He should answer that elite and non-citizens of Albania ", Lobonja estimates.

Nicholas Gage: Athens to give soon the Greek citizenship for thousand north epiriotes

World Council delegation of Epirus Abroad, meeting with the Ministry of Interior for the vote of northern epiriotes and the resolve the pension problem The visit of Nicholas Gage, is considering as the latest diplomatic effort of USA lobbing, for implementation of the "Protocol of Corfu" agreement, between Albania and Greece, based on the ulterior escalation in Balkan region. The Delegation of the World Council of Foreign Relation of Epirus (PSIE) headed by the Honorary President Nicolas Gkatzogianni, had a working meeting with the Greek Interior minister Stylianidis and v/ minister Syrigos.

Himariotes, lobbying in USA, for Autonomy

A group of people of Himara, with American citizenship, are lobbying to the US Congress and the State Department, that the Himara Region, receive the right for autonomy, according to international historical right to his self-determination. Proposed to merge all associations operating in USA, Greece and Albania, to be united in a single purpose: Autonomous Himara, Movements in the Balkans geopolitical, Mitrovica case, cutting pension from Greece, scarce public investment, robbery and illegal registration of property, etc., have raised a great concern, as never in the recent relationship of Himara, Albanian and Greek state relationship.

Pyrros Dimas, meeting with the Greek Minister of Labour, for problem of pensions to the Northern Ep

- Initiative of MP of PASOK, Pyrros Dimas for preparing and drafting a legislative proposal in collaboration with representatives of the Northern Epirus organizations. - The Minister agreed on the need to find a solution and urged the Member to develop concrete proposals, and that after consultation with the Secretary of the New Republic, Manolis Kefaloyiannis will be submitted jointly to the Minister of Finance.

"Kakome Case" again to the Albanian Tribunals

The Greek Community continues to "constant war" with the Albanian government to protect property. The apathy of Athens, to respond to the robbery of the properties in just the time, that OSCE, under the process of the registration of property in Ionian Coast, from European taxpayers, without any trasparence, is favoring according to Albanian law, alienation of property, of the Greek community , with the false documents.

Berisha: albanophobia threatens inter region

Berisha: "We must accept that they are the only people who live in 5 states. A nation that is unjustly divided into 5 states, a nation that wants to look to a common future. But again albanophobia is still in action " Albanian Prime Minister for the second time, threatening Greece, claiming that Albanians in Greece, should join the Albanian state.

NORTHERN EPIRUS THROUGH THE CENTURIES(LECTURE OF VASILIOS KYRANIS, Harvard University -1981) AL

Christos Pappas, in an interview with Arthur Zhei, News 24 TV

Pappas: "Northern Epirus is a region that holds arbitrary from Albania, as recognized by the great powers, the Protocol of Corfu. The Law of War against Albania, can not remove from Papoulias nor Greek parliament, but the Greek army is ready to liberate the Northern Epirus, again

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After a life threatening message to Archbishop Janullatos

42 Orthodox clergy against census and Red & Black Alliance: Janullatos has not afraid of death 42 Tirana archdiocese Orthodox clergy have reacted with a joint statement in defense of Anastasios Yannoulatos. Their attitude comes after strong reactions against the Red & Black Alliance, for Archbishop and after a census that sees Orthodox in third place in terms of religion in the country.

Albania: 100 years, Berisha plays 'great Albania' trump card

In Tirana Albanian leaders, tensions with Macedonia 28 November, 10:49 (ANSAmed) - TIRANA, NOVEMBER 28 - Albania's black and red national flag with a double-headed eagle is waving across the country which is celebrating today its 100th anniversary of independence in a tense political climate. The centre-right Premier Sali Berisha has been calling for days for an ethnic-national unification of all Albanians living in different Balkan states, in efforts to revive a strong nationalism which is rejected by Albania's opposition.

The Official Site of The Himara Community

CONTINUES THE DEBATE IN WASHINGTON D.C. FOR THE PROPERTY RIGHTS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS FROM NORTHERN

According to the Greek organisation of Albania estimates there are thousands of Greek American citizens from Northern Epirus (Southern Albania) which is refering the Journalist Lambros Papantoniou, asking the Spokesman of State Department for the rights of American citizens with Greek origin to take their properties in Southern Albania. Papantoniou is refereeing a Memo between Albanian State and USA about the civil rights especially for the properties of American citizens who are interested to take them according to Albanian Constitution and laws the properties of family generation. This is the second debate of the veteran Journalist for Balkan Issues in State Department Lambros Papantoiou who accuses over all the Sali Berisha Regim in Albania supported by the President Bush.

A Response to AFP

SManalysis Orthodox churches of Albania, are Byzantine churches, belong to the property of the population of Epirus.....

Avramopoulos`s speach during NATO meeting

Greece threatens Albania blocking the integration process after Berisha's statements Greek Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, has expressed his concern at the NATO ministerial meeting about rising tide of nationalism in Albania and premature declarations of the government. In a press release the Greek Foreign Ministry said that "the growth of nationalism and populism in some of our neighboring countries is a source of great concern."

The U.S. talk of "change of borders in the Balkans"

Message-warning sent to Albania by the U.S. representative to the State Department, which in a statement said that any change of borders in the Balkans "would be counterproductive and destabilizing," but the issue is that for the first time put the U.S. even and negative mood on any change of borders in the Balkans ...

INUK në Vlorë, pronarët: Me dokumenta të rregullta dhe leje ndërtimi

ENIKOS.GR

GREEK NEWS FROM NIKO`S BLOG

PREMIUM, THE GREEK TRASFORMATION

The "Kissinger Plan": Confederations Macedonia, Epirus, Thrache,

THE BIG CHANGE IN PERIVOLO, DRYMADES, HIMARA REGION

Dhermi, (Drymades, Himara Region) between natural beauty and destruction Look at those videos, before in 2010, everything natural and in 2012 the differences, the big changes how are divided Mafia plots, see whose investments are shown, with the camera of a sportsman parachute, in Long Beach "Perivolo" in Dhrymades, the Himara Region. Look at how this summer 2012, the Concessions of Mafia provided by The Himara Counsil Municipality and the Government of Albania, have become a reality. The Sand Beach Drymades, is transformed in the sidewalks and kiosks. See how they are transformed Dhermi, in a few years, in an administrative center, disrupting also balance the religious and ethnic composition of himariotes.

Robert Elsie: If I would live in Albania, it would be crazy. It is the same as in Ottoman times

After known albanolog Milan Shufla, Robert Elsie is the best conteproranean albanian albanolog in the World During his intereweu on "Top Channely TV, Robert Elsie, on his first interview on TV. expresed his story about Albanian and Albanian state in 100 years. An interesting tale scholar known for his work difficulties in view of the Albanian language. Elsie, who knows Albanians for years, amounts to a chilling conclusion. He says he will not ever live in Albania, as it will go mad. "I can not live here. It's a little wild for me, the relationships between people are a bit wild. I know that is just a facade that inside have good spirit, but have a rabies in human relations. You know how to protect yourself here, and here I am like a rabbit, he can not defend myself. I come here with pleasure, but do not believe they can afford to come and live here forever. There is much frustration of everyday life. Life is too short and I do not have time to bump into obstacles, only to achieve something, when in another country and get away and then live my life, "said Elsie to Albanian. And while Enver Hoxha's Albania as compared with that of Sali Berisha, adds: "There is something that depends only on the party, it's more the attitude of the people. So to get something going, you have to know someone in the Ministry, to drink coffee with, then drink coffee again next week with even a third time, and then he connects with the person that you are interested . That is the same as in Ottoman times, not like a normal country. ".

Separatists gaining ground in Europe

Greece, is going to Plan B: grant for 600 thousand Greek citizenship, at the Consulates

Failure of the Census in Albania, apparently, has forced Athens, put in place, going to Plan B to its foreign policy, grant citizenship to all Hellenic Community of Northern Epirus (Greek passports) through three Greek consulates in Albania. According to “The Albanian newspaper Gazeta Shqiptare”, in a statement issued by the Greek Consul in Argjirokaster, Nikolaos Kotroxois, will begin soon, giving the Greek passports to Albanian citizens of Greek descent, who have applied for years. The decision is taken, after Athens, has used all diplomatic sources to have to Tirana, the same wavelength, particularly in geopolitical matters, particularly Kosovo. In his statement, the Greek Foreign Minister Stavros Dimas, noted, that Tirana, continues to show towards Greece, feeling not sincere cooperation, while simultaneously calling for the right to self-determination of the Greek community in Albania.

BERISHA: GREATER ALBANIA, WE LOST TERRITORIES

he Albanian Prime Minister held a meeting with Prishtina University students, in which he argued why he is against the unification of Albania with Kosovo and why both countries would lose, if borders would be changed. “The vital interest of the Albanians is to preserve the current borders, and the Albanians should not accept, at any cost, to lose a single square meter of the land they are entitled to. Another redraw of the borders would mark undeserved losses of the Albanian territories. We must be patient, free, and should not undertake any action that threatens territorial losses. Every generation has to make its duty, and this generation made it”, Berisha declared.

Dimas:"The Greek ethnic Community in Albania has the right of free of charge self-determination"

The reliability of the results of population census in Albania, in terms of minority groups, directly challenging the foreign minister Stavros Dimas, diaminyontas same time that the Respect for human and minority rights is … crucial criterion for the progress of the accession method of our neighbor. In a letter sent to the Home in response to a question from a Member of LA.OS K. Aivaliotis, Dimas says that “the foreign ministry has closely followed all the developments surrounding the census in Albania, even though produced timely plays, both bilateral and European level to make sure the integrity process and unimpeded registration of members of the Greek National Minority, and each location of residence of such ». As outlined, the “Selection of the representatives of the main minority groups, including the Greek National Minority, invite their members to abstain in protest not guaranteed to respect the right of free of charge self-determination, showed a significant deficit of trust minority in the Albanian state, which ought to itself the Albanian government to address priority ».

The Constitutional Court Decision on December 1, the Latter abolished the term Ethnic certificate of Its Citizens. In the Decision, panels argues why the notion of "nationality" is incompatible with the constitution When Its state charter law does not provid a clear definition of Its meaning. In Assessing the Court, "nationality" as defined concept without, unlike Other components of civil law does not Create a link that 'translates the Mutual rights and duties of Natural Persons and state.

While the total population in Himara Municipality, does not exceed 12 thousand inhabitants, a source from the prosecution of Vlora, shows that the problems of ownership at the squirrels region have reached the 7500 court proceedings and special investigations, which marks a world record, by how a country like Albania, could not manage the right of ownership, in one of the areas attacked by the Albanian mafia and international. However, the U.S. Department Report for 2004 on human rights in Albania, states clearly that in the Himara Municipality, the community lands and the Orthodox Church, was robbed by a Courts with false documents, supported by the Office of Propetry Registration in Albania.

Arben Puto: Albania has declared war against Greece first

In his book "The Italian Greek War", Arben Puto, well known historian of the era of dictatorship in Albania, writes that: "In a unanimous decision of the Albanian Parliament on July 15, 1940, was ratified, the Italian Fascist royal decree, which declared all war allies France and Britain, including the USA and Greece. So need to Albanians, to be aware that Greece was not declared war Albania, but Albania, with military battalions that attacked Greece on 28 October 1940 ".

WB returns to Ionian Riviera residence reconstruction

Another World Bank project is being executed with the help of the Albanian authorities for the reconstruction of the residences in Albania’s southern coastline. The 625.000 USD project aims to protect and promote the values of the Albanian national architecture in the Southern part of the country, in order to prevent destruction and abandonment of the traditional houses. “Shqip” newspapers says that the Ministry of Public Works is the WB partner in the “Roofs and Facades” project. The implementation of the program has started in the villages classified as participators: Dhermi i Vjeter, Qeparo i Vjeter, Ilias, Vuno, Himare e Vjeter, Piqeras, Nivice and Luksht. The World Bank will finance 70% of the restauration cost, with a maximum of 7000 USD, while the program “Accommodation and Breakfast” will finance 50 of the restoration cost, with a maximum of 5,000 USD. The program “Roofs and Facades” aims to restore 72 houses in 18 months. 20 of them will adopt with the conditions of modern life, in the framework of the program “Accommodation and Breakfast”.

In Albania, at 20 years post-dictatorship, 8 thousands murders, for the issue of property

The shocking data, are given by the Prosecutor General, to the Albanian press Shocking facts which, in the wake of Albania rank Civil War, the high level of killings, including the year 1997 Through the Albanian press, Attorney General, has published shocking facts about the increasing number of murders in Albania, especially for issues of ownership. Clic on photo ....

Himara 26 centuries, a history of glorious Independence

HIMARA, THE NEXT MONTE CARLO`S IN EPIRUS

First step to Greater Albania: Kosovo Opens First Highway Section

A 38 kilometre-tranche of the road, which will eventually cross the country from the Albanian to Serbian border, was opened on Saturday. The first section, which runs from Vermica on the Albanian border to close to the town of Suhareka, cost 330 million euro. Senior Kosovo and Albania government officials were present at the inauguration ceremony. In a speech, Kosovo’s President Atifete Jahjaga said that the "highway has the role of linking nations and countries". "It is our link with important European corridors. Our coordinated policy will make us a free and equal members of the European Union," she added. Named the "Ibrahim Rugova Highway", after Kosovo's most famous president, the road connects with Albania's first highway, which was also built by the Turkish-American consortium Bechtel-Enka.

George Goro: Registration of properties on the southern coast of Albania faces difficulties

The process of registration of property in southern coastal areas of Albania is getting quite difficult. Mayor George Himara Goro says it has so far only completed the registration of houses and land but not land. Problems with documentation and the implementation of the Land Law difficult, according to him, residents in this process.

The Monument of Independence of Albania, is in hassle

PDIU Cam Community Party, the Socialist Party's local leader in Vlora, and "Red & Black Alliance", are making a nationalistic competition, the Monument of Independence and the Albanian national flag. Few days ago, Prime Minister Sali Berisha, said the establishment of a new monument to the independence of Albania in Tirana, implying, dismiss the historical tradition of Albanian independence in Vlora.

Himarrioton Society of America

The Himarriotans of America, motivated by the love of Himarra, the land of their native origin, and dedicated to the noblest ideals of their forfathers, have established this organization which aspires to the cultivation and preservation of Himarriotic culture in America, to making a positive difference in the lives of its members, and to promoting the rights and interests of the Himarriotans in Himarra, through the realization of patriotic, charitable, philanthropic, educational and cultural endeavors.

Opinion in Kosovo: "Socialists in Albania, are filo Greek"

The Chairman of the Opposition in Albania, Edi Rama, accused by the press in Kosovo that "he is with filo Greek sentiments" If, Sali Berisha, Albania's current prime minister, is expected both in Macedonia and Kosovo, as president of the Albanian nation, this has not happened with the chairman of the opposition in Albania, Edi Rama. During a recent visit to Kosovo, Edi Rama is unpopular, the fact that the perception of public opinion in Kosovo, is that the south, is the area close to Greece, but especially Rama and the Socialist Party, was accused of holding a position filo Greek, against the interests of Greater Albania.